English Tourism Week 2023 is a great excuse to head out for the day and explore some of the country - and it’s perfectly possible to do that if you live in Manchester while also leaving the car at home.
We’ve had a look at the train network heading out of the city’s major travel hubs such as Manchester Piccadilly and Victoria and have pulled together a wealth of different days out which are all in easy reach of the train and shouldn’t take much more than an hour to get to.
It’s an eclectic list too, with the trains connecting Mancunians to everything from beautiful historic market towns to villages perched in stunning countryside begging to be explored on foot.
So whether you want a day enjoying some good food and a bit of shopping, a cultural one delving into centuries of the north of England’s past or an intrepid one soaking in some of the country’s most spectacular landscapes, we’ve got you covered. Here are nine places within 60 minutes or just over that on the trains out of Manchester.
1. Hebden Bridge
You can get to Hebden Bridge in about half an hour on the train from Manchester Victoria and the town has become a magnet for visitors as it is crammed with independent and alternative shops and nice places to eat and drink. Photo: Getty Images Photo: Getty Images
2. Knutsford
About 40 minutes from Manchester Piccadilly on the train is the market town of Knutsford which has a quaint cobbled centre, a long rich history and quirky attractions such as the Penny Farthing Museum. Photo: Google Maps Photo: Google Maps
3. Lancaster
Lancaster is just over an hour away from Manchester and is a bustling university city where you can delve into centuries of history at the castle, visit interesting museums exploring its past on land and sea or catch some culture at the Dukes theatre. Photo: Garth Hamer Photo: National World
4. Buxton
A shade over an hour on a train from Piccadilly brings you to the elegant Derbyshire spa town of Buxton which is full of stunning old buildings including the Georgian-era Crescent and the baths and also has a well-known opera house. Photo: Jason Chadwick Photo: jason chadwick